Review: The Complete Book of Ground Covers by Gary Lewis

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

“A magnum opus of ground covers that deserves a place in every gardener’s library.” —Tony Avent, founder and owner Plant Delights Nursery

Ground covers are widely thought of as utilitarian—we turn to them when we have a problem that needs a solution. Yet these plants also offer a diverse range of beautiful and intriguing options with a variety of colors, textures, and forms. They can unify a landscape, knit together plantings and hardscape, and add extra layers of beauty, dynamism, and surprise. As a replacement for lawns, they can reduce our use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, carbon-based fuels, and transform a yard into a diverse landscape of habitat and food for native insects, birds, and other wildlife.

In this meticulously researched reference, nurseryman Gary Lewis profiles more than 4000 ground covers that can perform these roles with aplomb. No matter what kinds of conditions you’re facing—shade, dry soil, heavy clay, excess moisture—there’s a ground cover that will thrive and beautify your garden. Comprehensive, practical, and copiously illustrated, this indispensable volume belongs on the shelf of every designer, landscape architect, and serious gardener.

My Review

This large book is dense with information about ground cover plants and acts as an encyclopedia of listings in alphabetical order. It's a wonderful resource, and the most helpful part to me was the beginning with guidance on planning and designing. I also learned from the introduction which explained the various types of ground cover and what makes them different from each other. I was completely overwhelmed by the vast amount of plants to learn about, but there are 17 sidebars with lists of plants suggested for various conditions and categories, such as edible, trailing, tight spaces, lawn replacement, deer-resistant, fragrant, and the various soil and light conditions. I found it to be a good place to start, and was able to look up the plants by name rather than try to read through the plant listings beginning to end.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.